TY - JOUR
T1 - Women’s knowledge about heart disease
T2 - Differences among ethnic and cultural groups in the Israeli Women’s Health in Midlife Study
AU - Blumstein, Tzvia
AU - Benyamini, Yael
AU - Boyko, Valentina
AU - Lerner-Geva, Liat
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Taylor & Francis.
PY - 2016/1/2
Y1 - 2016/1/2
N2 - The current investigation aimed to assess levels of knowledge about risk factors for heart disease among midlife Israeli women, and to evaluate the relationship of knowledge to personal risk factors and vulnerability to heart disease. Face-to-face interviews with women aged 45–64 years were conducted during 2004–2006 within three population groups: long-term Jewish residents (LTR), immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and Arab women. The survey instrument included six knowledge statements relating to: the risk after menopause, family history, elevated cholesterol level, diabetes, obesity, and warning signs of a heart attack. The findings showed wide disparities in knowledge by educational level and between immigrants and LTR, after taking into account personal risk factors and education. Personal risk factors were not significantly related to the knowledge items, except for personal history of cardiovascular disease, which was associated with knowledge about “warning signs of a heart attack” and “family history.” Women who perceived themselves as more vulnerable to heart disease were more likely to identify several risk factors correctly. These findings stress the need to increase knowledge about heart disease, especially among less educated and minority women, and to emphasize the risk of patients’ personal status by health providers.
AB - The current investigation aimed to assess levels of knowledge about risk factors for heart disease among midlife Israeli women, and to evaluate the relationship of knowledge to personal risk factors and vulnerability to heart disease. Face-to-face interviews with women aged 45–64 years were conducted during 2004–2006 within three population groups: long-term Jewish residents (LTR), immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and Arab women. The survey instrument included six knowledge statements relating to: the risk after menopause, family history, elevated cholesterol level, diabetes, obesity, and warning signs of a heart attack. The findings showed wide disparities in knowledge by educational level and between immigrants and LTR, after taking into account personal risk factors and education. Personal risk factors were not significantly related to the knowledge items, except for personal history of cardiovascular disease, which was associated with knowledge about “warning signs of a heart attack” and “family history.” Women who perceived themselves as more vulnerable to heart disease were more likely to identify several risk factors correctly. These findings stress the need to increase knowledge about heart disease, especially among less educated and minority women, and to emphasize the risk of patients’ personal status by health providers.
KW - Israel
KW - heart disease
KW - knowledge
KW - midlife
KW - minorities
KW - risk factors
KW - vulnerability
KW - women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84957840885&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/03630242.2015.1074639
DO - 10.1080/03630242.2015.1074639
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AN - SCOPUS:84957840885
SN - 0363-0242
VL - 56
SP - 78
EP - 97
JO - Women and Health
JF - Women and Health
IS - 1
ER -